Factors that influence high school students' English oral communication skills in Ecuadorian face-to-face learning environments

Abstract

Abstract: The present research aims to identify the linguistic and emotional factors that influence the oral communication skills in English of high school students in face-to-face learning environments in Ecuador. To conduct this research, a mixed methodology was utilized, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, to achieve this, information was collected from reliable literature, and instruments such as observation, questionnaires, and interviews were applied to forty students from the first and second year baccalaureate as well as English teachers in a private school in the city of Quito. As a result of the data analysis, the present study provides valuable information, and it was evident that the main linguistic and emotional factors that affect the oral communication skills include grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, motivation, and fear. Based on this information, it is possible to draw conclusions and provide relevant recommendations and it becomes possible to design more effective pedagogical strategies to enhance their communicative abilities. Moreover, the implications of this research extend beyond the classroom, as oral communication is a skill that benefit students in various aspects of their personal and professional lives.